Red Moscow

After listening to Sokov's explanation, Ponegerin took a step forward and held Sokov's hand, and said gratefully: "General Sokov, thank you, thank you so much! With your words, I feel relieved." .To tell you the truth, I am really worried that I and most of the fighters will not have a chance to return to their hometown alive."

"General Ponegerin, don't be so polite." Sokov knew his future, and he would never stop at being a commander of the army group. If he wanted to hold a higher position, he must have a group of capable men, and Bo Niejielin is undoubtedly one of the qualified candidates.

After he asked Ponegerin to sit down, he poured him a cup of hot tea and asked curiously, "General Ponegerin, can you tell me how you were captured?"

Hearing Sokov's question, Ponedelin took a sip of tea from the mug and began to tell his own story: "One month after the war broke out, my 12th Army, General Muzichenko's 1st The 6th Army and the 18th Army of General Tyurenev from the Southern Front, with a total of 18 infantry divisions and two mechanized corps, fortified in the direction of Uman to block the German troops trying to rush to Kiev.

Due to the successful breakthrough of the German army in the Zhytomir area, our three armies were surrounded by the German army. Although our troops did not receive aviation support, the commanders and fighters still defended tenaciously in the face of the German army, which had air superiority and equipment superiority, and caused the enemy to pay a huge price.

My unit held its ground in the village of Podvisoko and fought tenaciously until August 15th. As the enemy rushed near my headquarters, I led the members of the headquarters to fight the enemy. When the ammunition ran out, I used bayonets and shovels to engage in hand-to-hand combat with the enemy, and was unfortunately captured due to serious injuries. "

Having said that, Ponegerin stood up while leaning on the edge of the table, untied his tattered military uniform, and said to Sokov and the others: "Look, this is the wound the Germans gave me."

Seeing the shocking wounds on Ponegerin's chest and abdomen, Sokov couldn't help but feel a little terrified. Sameko and Lunev also looked closely, and Sameko even pointed to the wound and said to Lunev: "Comrade Military Commissar, you see, this wound was shot with a 98K rifle, and the wound on the abdomen was stabbed with a bayonet." .”

After seeing Ponegerin's wounds, Sokov couldn't help saying with emotion: "General Ponegerin, you are really lucky. You can survive with more than a dozen wounds on your body."

"Yes, there are fifteen wounds on my body, some were caused by German bullets, and some were stabbed with bayonets." Pornegerin said to the crowd while buttoning his clothes: "After I was wounded and captured, I was hospitalized. After two full months of treatment, it was considered to be completely saved."

After learning about how Ponegerin was captured, Sokov felt that the chance of him becoming a traitor was almost zero, so he changed the subject in time: "General Ponegerin, as far as I know, during the Battle of Uman, Our army has captured more than 100,000 commanders and fighters, do you know where they are now?"

After listening to Sokov's question, Ponedelin showed a painful expression on his face: "General Sokov, according to what I learned when I was treated in the German military hospital, our army had 100,000 soldiers in the Battle of Uman. The multi-fingered fighters were captured, and they were held by the Germans in a huge mine.

After they were imprisoned in the mine by the enemy, the Germans not only did not give them food, they did not even provide them with drinking water. I heard that in the end the prisoners were so hungry that they began to eat dirt. But after the soil is eaten into the stomach, it cannot be digested at all. It will form a ball in the stomach and cannot be excreted at all. People will die of severe pain due to stomach distension. ..."

"Eat dirt, hum!" Hearing this, Lunev sneered and said disdainfully, "It's the first time I've heard someone say that you can eat dirt. This is simply a fantasy."

"Comrade Military Commissar." Knowing Lunev's special status, Ponedelin had to convince him first if he wanted to prove his innocence, and quickly argued, "I'm not lying, it's all true."

"Comrade Lunev, I believe in General Ponejielin." Ponejielin's words reminded Sokov of the disaster victims who ate Guanyin soil, so he decisively supported his statement, and then raised his chin at him , urged: "General Bornejelin, please continue."

"The prisoners of war really had no other choice, so they tried to rush out of the huge pit, but the German machine guns drove back those who tried to escape. Maybe they didn't want everyone to starve to death here, so they started throwing some food at them, but The amount of food they provide is too small, and only a small number of commanders and fighters can get some food every day." Just listen to Ponegelin continue: "As time goes by, people are dying, and they are tortured so that they have no idea of ​​​​escape. Just quietly waiting for death to come...

With our army's successive victories, the German army planned to build the Dnieper River defense line, so they transferred prisoners of war from various places to build fortifications. It was under such circumstances that we were brought to Klemenchug by the Germans to build a defense line. There were more than 4,000 people when they set off. On the way to Klemenchug, many prisoners of war fell to the ground directly because of lack of energy. The Germans would shoot and kill prisoners of war who fell on the ground without hesitation, lest these people become a source of soldiers for the guerrillas in the future.

In this way, after the team of more than 4,000 people came to Klemenchug, there were only more than 3,000 people left. When building the fortifications on the right bank, many people were shot and killed by the Germans every day because of passive sabotage. If you hadn't rescued us in time, there might not be many people left after the defense project is completed. "

"Lieutenant Samoilov," Sokov chatted with Ponegerin for a while, and suddenly found that the other two generals did not appear with Ponegerin, so he frowned and asked Sam who was standing aside. Ilov: "Where are Lieutenant General Muzichenko and Major General Kirillov? Why didn't they come in with you?"

"General Sokov," hearing Sokov scolding Samoilov, Ponejielin quickly helped him out and said, "You know, there are more than two thousand commanders and fighters who have rushed to the Meriefa Fortress. They will be sent to Siberia, feeling somewhat depressed, and need a few high-profile people to appease them. Lieutenant General Muzichenko and Major General Kirillov will stay behind to do appeasement work."

Hearing what Ponegerin said, Sokov asked in surprise, "General Ponegerin, didn't they come back in the same car as you?"

"Yes," said Ponedelin, nodding his head. "General Fomenko left us a jeep, and the three of us were supposed to drive here together. But Lieutenant General Muzychenko said my The one with the weakest physique, let me ride here alone, he and Major General Kirillov pass with the commanders and fighters, and at the same time, they are responsible for calming everyone's emotions on the road."

After figuring out what was going on, Sokov waved Samoilov to let him leave the command post, and then asked Ponedelin: "General Ponedelin, I have one more question to ask you. "

"Excuse me, General Sokov."

"I heard that on the leaflets dropped by the Germans to our army, there are photos of you and the German officers, and there is even a photo with the German general, and you even chat and laugh with each other." Sokov asked: "What exactly is going on?"

"General Sokov, don't you understand that this is a German conspiracy?"

"Conspiracy, what conspiracy?" Before Sokov could speak, Lunev interjected and asked, "You might as well tell me." Find a group of capable commanders to help him. He doesn't want the stain on Pornegerin to affect Sokov's future, so he has to figure out a lot of problems.

"At that time, I had just recovered from my injuries and was discharged from the hospital. Suddenly one day, a German officer came. He told me that several higher-ranking officers were going to visit me in the prisoner-of-war camp. Maybe it was because I was afraid that I would resist. , He also specifically emphasized that these officers had participated in the military parade with me at the Brest Fortress."

"A military parade at the Brest Fortress?" Sokov heard this, turned his head and asked Sameko, "Comrade Chief of Staff, have you heard of this?"

Just when Sameko shook his head, Lunev interjected again: "I know about it."

"Oh, Comrade Military Commissioner, you know." Sokov asked curiously, "What's going on here?"

"In September 1939, our country and Germany launched an attack on Poland at the same time, and then the troops of the two countries joined forces at the Brest Fortress." Seeing that Sokov did not understand this matter, Sameko explained to him: "The meeting Shortly thereafter, a joint military parade was held there."

After listening to Lunev's brief introduction, Sokov understood the reason why Ponegerin agreed to take a photo with the German officer, so he turned his head and asked Ponegerin: "General Pornegerin, if I guessed correctly, where did you go?" So the photo with these German officers is because they are old acquaintances of you, right?"

"Exactly, General Sokov," Ponedelin replied. "The German general who took the photo with me sat next to me during the parade at the Brest Fortress. He was telling me when the photo was taken. I started with some details of the military parade. You also know that we were able to capture the Brest Fortress, which is an unquestionable victory. It is normal to be happy when we hear other people’s praise. But I did not expect that the German photographers were in the The photos taken in that situation were used to promote our army.”

"General Ponegerin, I have basically figured out your situation." Sokov has already confirmed at this moment that Pornegerin was not a traitor at all, and the judgment made against him at that time was a complete mistake. He smiled and said to Pornejelin: "You must be tired after sitting in the car for so long. I will arrange for you to rest first, and I will call you when I have something to do."

After Sokov asked a staff officer to take Ponegerin away, he turned to Lunev and asked, "Comrade Military Commissar, do you think General Pornederin is telling the truth?"

Lunev thought for a while, then nodded, and replied, "I believe what he said is true."

Hearing Lunev say this, Sokov was very happy: "So, do you believe that he is not a traitor at all?"

"Comrade Commander, I just believe it's useless." Lunev said with a wry smile, "The key is to let the people above know that Ponegerin is not a traitor."

After being reminded by Lunev, Sokov felt that he should report the matter to Zhukov immediately and ask him to come here as soon as possible. Then I called the director of the Communications Corps and told him: "Comrade Director of the Communications Corps, please help me get through to Marshal Zhukov. I have something important to report to him immediately."

While waiting for the call to be connected, Sokov asked Sameko: "Comrade Chief of Staff, is there any latest news from Klemenchug?"

"Yes, Comrade Commander." Sameko quickly picked up a telegram received not long ago and handed it to Sokov: "The artillery and tank units that arrived not long ago are cooperating with the 98th Guards Division. Make a final attack on the stubborn enemy in the city. If they attack, they can take the city before the 84th Infantry Division arrives."

"Not bad, not bad," Sokov took the telegram, browsed through the content carefully, and said repeatedly: "As long as we control Kremenchug, it is equivalent to cutting off the retreat route of the Poltava enemy army. A battle of defeat can become a war of annihilation."

"That's right, that's right." Sameko, as Sokov's chief of staff, naturally understood the difference between an annihilation war and a rout war. If the retreat of the German army is not cut off, they may abandon their existing defensive positions and retreat to new defensive areas to continue to prevent new resistance when they see the Soviet army's fierce offensive. It will be greatly weakened, which is very powerful for our next battle."

"How about the bridge over the Dnieper?" Sokov continued.

"The troops occupying the bridge are currently strengthening the fortifications, and have not yet encountered enemy attacks."

Sokov and Sameko were talking, when the director of communications suddenly shouted: "Comrade Commander, Marshal Zhukov's phone has been connected, and he is waiting to talk to you on the line."

Sokov walked up to the director of the communications corps, took the microphone in his hand, and said respectfully to his ear, "Hello, Comrade Marshal, I'm Sokov."

"Misha," Zhukov guessed what Sukov would be looking for him for, and asked quickly, "Pornegelin and the others have come to you?"

"Yes, General Pornegerin has come to my place, and I have chatted with him for a while."

Zhukov asked indifferently: "What did you talk about?"

"Ask about how he was captured, and about those photos."

"Then what conclusion did you draw?"

"Ponegerin did not become a traitor. The contents of the German leaflets are all lies, and they are intended to disintegrate the morale of our army." From Zhukov's tone of voice, Sukov seemed to be very fond of Ponegerin. Sympathetic, he struck while the iron was hot and said: "Comrade Marshal, if you have time, you might as well come to the fortress of Meriefa and talk to Ponejerin in person, maybe you can get the answer you want."

"Well, I will hurry there as soon as possible." After Zhukov finished speaking, he changed the topic in time: "By the way, how is the situation at Klemenchug?"

Fortunately, Sokov had just learned about the situation in Kremenchug from Sameko, so he was able to answer Zhukov's question: "Comrade Marshal, the bridge over the Dnieper River has been controlled by our army. The troops are strengthening the fortifications and preparing for the German attack.

The battle in the city is still going on, and the artillery and tank units that have just arrived in Klemenchug are cooperating with the infantry to launch the final attack on the stubborn enemies in the city. At the same time, I sent General Fomenko's 84th Rifle Division to Klemenchug for reinforcements to ensure that the retreat of the Poltava enemy was completely cut off. "